Yesterday we mentioned that Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House (the architect's first residential building) fell victim to recent Midwestern floods. Landmarks Illinois has posted photos and more information about the damage...
This is the 7th "hundred-year-flood" that's occurred in the area in 60 years. Although the Farnsworth House was built on stilts, it lies in the Fox River flood plain and has suffered the consequences of record-breaking rains. Waters rose to over a foot inside the house and caused severe damage. The house is closed for tours through 2008. To make a contribution towards preservation and restoration, click here.
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oh man! that is depressing!
The Farnsworth is one of my favorite structures. That is a damn shame.
So sad...
Nooooooo!!!!!
This is not the first time this has happened to this house and it won't be the last - I believe that several years ago there was a plan in place for the entire building to be put on an apparatus that would raise it above the floodwaters during heavy rains such as Illinois is now experiencing (remnants of the recent hurricanes), but this plan was nixed due to a lack of funding.
My basement flooded on Sunday. I was upset about that but I think I'm more sick about this.
sadness.
What a shame! Such a beautiful place, however I have faith that they will be able to restore the structure (again). I was planning on a tour two weekends ago, and it just didn't happen. Shame!
Wow, this is really heartbreaking.
Hey, part of global warming / climate disruption is more severe storms and hurricanes -- it's not just polar bears who are going to suffer. In the next couple of decades we will see cherished parts of our country being destroyed by climate disruption. I really worry about the future of our planet and the fact that our soon-to-be vice-president (Sara Palin) doesn't even believe in global warming (but gosh darn it, she knows how to shoot a gun!)
I'm just glad I don't have kids, who knows what kind of disasters the next generation will have to face.
Were they able to get any of the furnishings or other movable items out? What a shame!!!!
I believe that one of the reasons that Mies configured the home as he did was because this area is (and was) considered a flood zone--obviously the extent of this particular flooding wasn't accounted for, but nonetheless the architect was thinking of this even when the home was built.
BrooklynRob--you are right, Palin is a joke. It's shameful that people would even consider such an unqualified person to be our next VP.
I just heard on NPR an avowed liberal woman say she's now supporting Palin because she wants to drill in Alaska. What can you say . . . we get what we deserve, I suppose.
Soon to be vice president Sara Palin? You have a lot of confidence there... too much in my opinion.
Damn. That sucks.
BrooklynRob, she doesn't have to be our "soon-to-be-VP." Just sayin'.
Although I'm a huge fan of Mies and love his work, I can't help but think that his Form did not Follow Function. Especially since it's happened before. But I do hope they restore it.
NO vote for Palin! I should think if one were to search her background for hundreds of years---she would be somehow related to Bush!!!
How do we go from a flooded Mies building to typical liberal bashing of Palin? When's the last time you Democrats took a look at the merchandise you all are trying to move?
I'm sorry, are we trying to move a frootbat who thinks she has foreign policy experience because she can "see Russia" from her house?
Even better though is the crook the Republicans are running for President right now - one of the Keating criminals who cost the taxpayers $125 billion during the last big round of real estate fraud on Wall Street. Hiring McCain to manage the economy would be like hiring Amy Winehouse to run the Betty Ford Clinic.
This is soooo sad. I love the Farnsworth House.
BTW, "100 year storm" means there is a 1 in 100 (i.e. 1%) chance of that level of storm happening in any give year, not that it happens once every 100 years.
i like that sunspot. Amy would at least be slightly entertaining...why not choose her for VP? It makes about as much sense.. in any event, sad news on both counts.